Towing enclosed trailer cross country?

I wish I could manually shift, I have an Auto trans.

 

You mean there’s no semi-automatic mode for your auto trans? P D N and R are your only choices?

 

All I got is that "you are moving out of Oregon"... Smart man, state has gone to full lost with its current leadership, or lack there of.

 

Yes but I can't shift above 4th without going to D.

 

Then 4th is your top gear for towing. 1:1 ratio, normal trans temps and, if you really want to push 70 mph, 3k rpm. Completely normal.

 

That rpm is normal for that speed. You don't really want to tow in 5th aka Drive as your tranny will get too warm. 3000rpm isn't going to hurt your truck.

 

Been in Ohio for 2 months now. Thoroughly enjoying it, despite the lack of easy access fire roads

 

Truck did totally fine towing that 2,500 miles from Oregon to Ohio. 7x14 Trailer weighed about 5,500lbs fully loaded. Had 0 issues the whole trip. Terrible gas mileage? Yes. Crawling up hills going 30mph with the semi's? Oh yea. Kept an eye on tranny temps though and warmest it ever got was 225 for a short amount of time. Weight distribution hitch and anti sway bars are a must.

 

Thanks for updating with your experience. Moving to Alaska soon and considering all the options. Glad to hear your tow went well. What hitch/anti-sway setup did you go with. Most of the ones I've seen are really beefy -- seems like over doing it for a small trailer, but could be wrong.

 

I would definitely recommend at least 1 spare tire for the trailer. The ALCAN is pretty rough on tires, especially right after winter when it’s full of potholes and frost heaves

 

So I'm learning. Already have on-board air and plug kit for the truck, so that extends to the trailer. I hear you on the spare tires regardless. Thinking I'll just buy a trailer locally and possibly sell it when I get up there. Only going to Anchorage.

Can't pass up the opportunity to drive the ALCAN though (will be in August).

 

This is the sway/weight hitch I went with. For a small trailer it may not be needed but for a 7x14 enclosed trailer it most definitely was.

$322 CURT 17062 Round Bar Weight Distribution Hitch with Integrated Lubrication and Sway Control, Up to 10K, 2-in Shank, 2-5/16" Ball

https://www.amazon.com/CURT-17062-D...r+and+weight+distrobution+hitch,aps,69&sr=8-5

And I did the exact same thing. I bought a brand new trailer, used it to move across country and then sold it immediately. Ate a couple grand but was still a much cheaper option than renting a UHaul truck and/or trailer from them. Even their "big" trailer 6x12 is tiny. Like 5ft tall. No way to fit any tall furniture in it. And even then it was $2500 one way to rent a trailer. I lost less buying/selling the new Interstate trailer. Good luck with your move! And definitely get a spare. I got a whole wheel/spare setup from discount tire for about $120. Worth it for piece of mind in my opinion.